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Workforce Initiative

Workforce Initiative

As the primary funder of long-term services and supports under the Medicaid Program, CMS maintains a vital interest in the paid and informal direct service community workforce. In the past 10 years, CMS has committed substantial resources to improving the recruitment and retention of direct service workers (DSW) through its Real Choice Systems Change grants, Direct Care Community Workforce Demonstration grants and national evaluations of them, and the National Direct Service Workforce Resource Center. The Direct Service Workforce Resource Center, under the guidance of CMS, developed many resources related to workforce development including:

A Synthesis of Direct Service Workforce Demographics and Challenges presents an overview of direct service workforce challenges and practices across intellectual and developmental disabilities, aging, physical disabilities, and behavioral health. It includes recommendations for action steps that could be taken in partnership across these different sectors to address workforce challenges.

2008 Symposium on Strengthening the HCBS Direct Service Workforce Discussion Summary highlights main themes from small discussion groups at this 2008 Symposium hosted by the DSW RC with the support of DHHS and the Department of Labor. This event provided a forum for showcasing best practices in direct service workforce development, highlighted Federal and state workforce initiatives, and disseminated research findings.

Best Practices for HCBS Ombudsmen was prepared for the Connecticut Department of Social Services as part of DSW RC TA to MFP states. It contains an explanation of roles and responsibilities of Ombudsmen within HCBS, a state comparison of these roles, and best practices for advocacy and fiscal considerations.